Book Review – Easy How-to Techniques for Simply Stylish 18″ Dolls

Learn how to make 18″ doll clothes using 7 quick-knit patterns found in Easy How-To Techniques for Simply Stylish 18″ Dolls by Andra Knight-Bowman.

Make adorable 18″ doll clothes using this step-by-step guide. Each knitting lesson builds upon the last, so they can stand alone or be used as part of a series of skill-building knitting projects. As soon as you learn a new knitting technique, you can immediately put it to use. Whether you’re just learning how to knit or you’re an expert, these fun patterns for doll clothing will inspire you to pick up those needles and get to work! 48 all-color pages. You can purchase this book here.

You’ll learn how to:

Work with cables
Knit in the round on double-point needles
Work a jogless join for perfect stripes every time
Use the 3-Needle Bind-Off to create neat and solid seams.
Add embroidery accents, pompoms and I-cords.

I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored.

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs.

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now.

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course.

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn.

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part.

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture.

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]

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